S. Korea's transport ministry to pre-buy plane tickets to help local airlines amid virus woes

국토부 “위기의 항공업 지원” 15억원어치 항공권 선결제To support local airlines struggling as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, South Korea's transport ministry will pre-purchase over a million dollars of plane tickets this year for officials' future travel plans.The ministry says it'll buy one-point-two-six million U.S. dollars worth of tickets,... accounting for 85 percent of its travel expenses.It marks the first time for a government ministry in South Korea to buy tickets in advance.The central government and other state agencies aim to do the same by the end of June.If the trips aren't taken within this year, the funds will be refunded.